Just a few questions

[ChiliDragon]

1. Where would the best place to buy crickets be?

With my new beardie, I've been buying a bunch of crickets to feed him from Petco, though 100 smalls is 15 bucks, and since the little dragons are supposed to eat 10-20 a day, that's 15 bucks a week. Is there any online stores to buy them from that maybe have them for a little cheaper? I've heard that, along with live ones, you can feed dead/frozen crickets to them with their salad, so would those be cheaper?

2. Stress marks?

I've heard and read about them on here, and know that they are common in young dragons, but I'm just wondering the causes of stress marks. I have read that they are not always caused by stress, so I'm just curious of the possible causes.

3. How to get them used to handling?

Simple enough, just wondering how to get my dragon used to handling. I've heard that, since he's been with me only about five days, to just let him get used to his cage before handling, but after that, how would anyone suggest to get him used to being handled?

Sorry for the slight length, just wondering about some things, being a first-time dragon owner

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....you can order 1,000 crix on line from lindasgonebuggy, Armstrong or Ghann's for about $ 15-$17 plus shipping so youd save a lot of money there. Just buy a medium sized plastic tote to set them up + they'll last you a few weeks or so. Stress marks are really nothing to worry about and handling can be done at least once a day and most beardies get used to it very quickly.

 

[ChiliDragon]

Thank you so much

 

[ChiliDragon]

Would you (or anyone else) know how to pick up a not-used-to-being-held dragon? Little dude keeps running away :/

 

[PogoLover]

Would you (or anyone else) know how to pick up a not-used-to-being-held dragon? Little dude keeps running away :/

I am a newbie too, but I have read A TON, so I will tell you what I have heard.

-For the first week or so, when they are adjusting to a new environment, some say to just let them adjust - maybe put a t-shirt or something that has your smell on it in their cage, so they get used to your smell.

-Don't try to pick them up by coming in from above and behind them (which would be a normal way to pick up a lot of pets) - that can scare them, because that is the way a predator would come at them. Put your flat hand down in front of him, so that he can see you coming, and see if you can get him to crawl onto your hand.

-If after a few weeks, you are still having trouble, some people suggest that you take their hides away, so they can't run and hide.

Hope this helps a little.